1985 Porsche
911 Speedster aka “Schutz Speedster”
The concept was to create a car that could be used in different ways based on
what you wanted to do and the weather: A
hardtop, convertible, a “slalom special” with a full tonneau covering all but
the driver seat, and a Speedster (as shown).
This car has 5,694 original miles and has not been seen by the general public
in 20 years.
Companion Poster Car:
2019 911
Speedster
Only 1948 examples were built (this is number 561), recognizing the year the
first Porsche 356 was produced.
The Back Story:
This automobile was a surprise project.
Peter Schutz, an American, was President and CEO of
Porsche AG from 1981 to 1987.
They sent an American-spec 911 to the unit that later
became known as “Porsche
Sonderwunsch,” or the “Special Wishes” department. Today, that department is housed
in its own 30,000 square foot building with 70 specially trained technicians
and an eight-year wait list to acquire any Porsche customization you could
possibly desire.
Meanwhile, a young American couple drove the car from the Porsche Development
Center in Weissach, Germany, to Peter’s home. Lori Schutz was Peter’s daughter,
and she and her husband Rick Riley were thinking about acquiring a collector
car that represented her father’s tenure at Porsche. Peter asked them, “Why not
this car?”
On flight home, they decided to do just that.
Rick and Lori heard a rumor the car had been sold to Snodgrass, but during a
subsequent phone call, Lori made it very clear they wanted the car.
It seemed untoward for the CEO to sell such a unique car to a family member, but
this guy Rick from Grand Rapids would fit the bill. Since Riley ≠ Schutz, the arms-length
transaction took place around 1986.
An American, Peter
Werner Schutz (April 20, 1930 – October 29, 2017) was president and CEO of
Porsche AG between 1981 and 1987, a time during which the company tripled
sales, primarily in the United States.
He is credited with saving the iconic 911 sports car, reversing an earlier
decision by the board to end production in favor of more “modern” models, like
the since-discontinued 944 Turbo, 944 S and 944 S2. He also successfully
introduced the 911 Cabriolet to the U.S. market.
